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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet '1.

' J. R. DA COSTA.

MOTIVE POWER ENGINE.

Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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5 A m S 0 0 v A D R l MOTIVE POWER ENGINE.

No. 484,629. Patented oct. 18, 1392.

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(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 4.

J. R. DA COSTA.

MOTI VB POWER ENGINE.

No. 484,629. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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(No Modem 5 Sheets-Sheet 5. J. R. DA'GOSTA MOTIVE POWER ENGINE. No. 484,629. Patented 0m. 18, 1892.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOAQUIN RIBEIRO DA COSTA, OF HAVRE, FRANCE.

MOTlVE-POWER ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 484,629, dated October 18, 1892. Application filed August 4, 1891. $eria1No- 401,720. (N0 model.)

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOAQUIN RIBEIRO DA COSTA, a citizen of the United States of Brazil, residing at Havre, in the Department of Seine-Infrieure, France, have invented a new Motive-Power Engine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of engines having vibrating pistons, and has for its particular object an improved system of valve-gear for the distribution of the motive fluid.

This engine works expansively and maybe constructed to work with high pressure only or high and medium pressure, medium pressure, medium and'low pressure, or low pressure only. It is more particularly designed for the propulsion of ships, to which it imparts great stability, being capable of working low down on the bed-plate. It is preferably arranged to work in a horizontal position, with the piston vibrating in a quarter of a circle; but it may be arranged to vibrate in an angle of less than ninety degrees with advantage as regards economy. The area of condensing-surface is relatively small, and there being no piston-rod the condensation or cooling which results from the exposure of the piston-rod in ordinary engines is altogether obviated. There is no occasion to provide for the support of a massive heavy piston, thepistons of these engines being caused to travel in the direction of rotation, thus reducing the amount of resistance to be overcome in the engine itself.

The casing of the machine is preferably constructed in two parts, a lower part directly attached to the bed-plate and an upper part comprising the valve-chests, the whole being secured with bolts and nuts to facilitate the construction. Leakage or accidental escape or waste of steam or motive fluid is effectually provided against by means of arrangements hereinafter described, and dead or waste spaces are almost entirely obviated.

The engines or motors constructed according to this invention, although more particularly suitable for marine propulsion, may evidently be employed for any other purposes in which a motive-power enginesuch as a steam-engineis required.

In order that my said invention may be Well understood, I shall now proceed to more particularly describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in transverse section a steam engine or motor constructedaccording to my invention, the section being taken on the line 1 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 represents the engine in front elevation. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section on the line 3 4, Fig. 1, the piston being represented at half-stroke. Fig. 4

shows the engine in plan. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the valve-gear, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 7 represents the valve-gear in plan, showing the connection between it and the four slide-valves, which are represented as being situated in the same plane in order to show their construction more clearly. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 each show in detail aplan, side, and end elevation of three levers used in the valve-gear.

A A is the casing of the engine, traversed by a driving-shaft B, to which is attached a piston C, partaking of a vibrating or angular motion. The casing is cast in two partsnamely, alower part A and an upper part A, carrying the valve-chests.

The piston O is formed by a plate 0, which may be cast in one piece with the shaft B. Upon this plate 0 there are attached by means of screws a filling-piece G and a counter-plate c. The packing of the piston is composed of a bottom bar 0 made in one or more pieces, and two side bars 0 the said packing'bars being pressed against the sides of the casing by means of springs attached to the fillingpiece 0 of the piston. WVhen the bottom bar 0 is made in two pieces, as represented in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the two parts are forced laterally by providing a bevel or incline on their adjacent extremities, which are acted upon by a wedge 0 pressed by a spring attached to the filling-piece C of the piston. The joint between the parts 0 of the piston may be made with a tongue and groove.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction hereinbefore described, as the vibrating piston and the means employed for preventing leakage may be constructed and arranged in any other suitable'manner.

The means employed for causing the shaft to work steam-tight in the casing are thoroughl y efiectual. They are completed by means of three packing bars or strips 1), capable of sliding in recesses formed in the upper part A of the casing. These packing-bars are pressed against the shaft B by means of springs arranged in the bottoms of the said recesses. Moreover, two lateral packing-pieces b, pressed against the inner surfaces of the cover-plates of the casing by the action of a helical spring B Fig. 3, contained in a longitudinal perforation in the shaft B, render it impossible for any leakage to take place at the sides. The combination of the packing bars or strips c b and lateral packingpieces b effectually prevents any steam from passing from one side of the piston to the other. Nevertheless any other suitable arrangement of means for preventing leakage may be employed, if preferred.

The engine is constructed with four slidevalvesnamely, two admission-valves D D and two exhaust-valves E E, Fig. 7. These valves work over ad mission-ports d d and exhaust-ports e e, formed in the sides of the upper part Aof the casing, and are actuated by rods F F. These valve-rods are worked by the valve-gear hereinafter described.

The steam is supplied by a pipe G having two branches G G, corresponding, respectively, with the casings of the two admissionvalves. The exhaust passes through passages or pipes H H, connected with the casings of the exhaust-valves and discharging into one pipe H or otherwise. A lubricator K is employed to lubricate that part of the shaft B which is in contact with the upper part A of the casing. The angular or vibrating motion of the piston C is converted into a continuous rotary motion by the intervention of a connecting-rod I and a crank J, with a counterweight, keyed upon an auxiliary shaft B, Figs. 2 and 4, which receives a continuous rotary motion.

The reversing of the engine is eifected by meansof a pipe Z connected with the steampipe G and divided into two branches Z Z, communicating, respectively, with opposite extremities of the casing or chamber in which the piston works. These pipes Z Z Z are provided at Y Y Y with valves, which may be of any suitable construction.

Having thus described a general arrangement of the engine, I will now proceed to explain the distribution mechanism which I prefer to employ, with reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying drawings, although I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction illustrated. The distribution mechanism or valve-gear is arranged on the front side or cover-plate P of the casing of the motor and is supported by lugs or brackets L M M N N, cast in one with the said cover-plate. These brackets or supports are shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, the moving parts of the gear being omitted in the latter figure. This mechanism is worked by an arm Q, fixed upon the main or vibrating driving-shaft B at the same angle as the piston O, the said arm acting in succession upon a main valve-lever R, connected to the ends F F of the valve-rods upon levers S S and upon two two-armed levers T T, Figs. 5 to 10. The arm Q is provided at its lower extremity with a tooth q, presenting inclines on both sides and which acts alternately upon correspondingly-inclined projections s 5 upon the levers S S, as hereinafter described. The main lever R is carried by a bracket L, passing through an opening in the said lever, which vibrates on a vertical pin 0, passing through the center of the lever and through an eye in the bracket L. The main lever R is provided on each side with arms r 0", connected to the valve-rods by linksff and four pins passed through eyes in the arms 1'4" and in the ends of the valve-rods F F. The main lever B is also provided with two lateral arms 7' 0"", which are rounded at their extremities and engage, respectively, with elongated openings or slots formed in the levers S S, Fig. 6. The lever B is also provided with two inclines 1' r forming cams, which are acted upon by a rounded projection on the arm Q.

The levers S S vibrate upon pins 3 3 passed through lugs N N. They are provided with elongated openings or slots for engaging with the extremities of the arms r r on the lever B and are provided at their lower extremities with projections s s, acted upon by the tooth q of the arm Q, as hereinafter explained. The small two-armed levers T T vibrate, respectively, upon pins t t in the lugs M M. The upper arms 25 t are provided with adjustable screws U 1;, the extremities of which act upon the hack of the main lever R. The lower arms t of the said two-armed levers T T are directed toward the front, passing through a recess in the main lever B, the arm t being bent upward, so as to pass over the other arm 15. The rounded projection on the arm Q acts alternatively on the arinst and t. The action of this distribution-gear is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the piston Oaud arm Q are moving in the direction of the arrow X, Fig. 5, and have not yet reached the lefthand end of their stroke. In passing before the cam-shaped surface r on the main lever R the rounded projection on the arm Q slightly pushes back one end of the lever B, as well as the corresponding lever S, which is acted upon by the arm 1. This movement of the main lever has the efliect of partly uncovering the admission-port d, owing to the displacement of the valve-rod F, and thus gives the lead for the admission. At this moment the arm Q reaches the end of its stroke and commences to return. In this return movement the tooth g on the arm Q acts upon the outer incline of the projection s on the lever S, over which it previously passed, owing to the lever S having been drawn back by the action of the main lever R. The tooth Q thus pushes the lever S farther back, and this lever in turn acting upon the lever R and slidevalve D completely uncovers the admissionport. In moving backward the main lever B acts upon the extremity of the arm t of the two-armed lever T in such a manner that when the latter vibrates upon the center t the extremity of the arm 15 of the said lever T projects in front of or beyond the lever B. In the return movement of the arm Q, which takes place in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow X, the rounded projection on the said arm pushes back the arm t of the lever T, causing the latter to vibrate in the opposite direction upon its center i and push forward the left-hand extremity of the main lever B, causing the latter to draw forward the admission-valve D and close the admission-port cl. The arm, continuing its motion, now acts upon the cam-surface r on the right-hand arm of the main lever, thus producing the lead for the admission on the righthand side, after which the arm returns, and, moving in the direction of the arrow, acts through its tooth (1 upon the outer incline of the projection s of the lever S, thus pushing back the latter and setting the admission fully open on the right-hand side. The arm Q then acts upon the arm 25 of the two-armed lever T, thus closing the admission on the righthand side and repeating the movement hereinbefore described. If we now consider what takes place on the opposite side of the piston corresponding with the exhaust, we find that the action corresponds with what takes place on the other side, as in an ordinary steamengine. When the lead for the admission takes place on one side, the lead for the exhaust on the other side is already open. The exhaust fully open corresponds to the admission fully open, and the exhaust-port does not close until just before a moment when the ad- Vance of the lead takes place on the side which was open to the exhaust. The period comprised between the time when the exhaustport closes and when the admission-port opens on the same side corresponds with the period of compression, and on the other side the commencement of the exhaust corresponds with the commencement of the compression, as in all steam-engines. The period of admission may be regulated by means of the screws 1: 1;, bearing against the back of the lever B and causing the small two-armed levers T '1" to vibrate upon their centers i so as to throw forward their ends 15 t in such a manner as to cause the arm Q to act upon them sooner. Moreover, by rotating the nuts V V in the same direction the arm Q may be shifted nearer to the lever B, in order to compensate for wearing away of the rounded projection on the said arm. This valve-gearpresents the important advantages of quickly opening and closing the passages for the introduction and exhaust of the steam and of always maintaining the same opening for the introduction, discharge, and exhaust independently of the period of admission.

In order to reverse the engine, the speed is reduced in the first place by partly closing the valve When the speed has been reduced, the three valves Y Y Y are opened and steam is admitted through the pipesZ Z Z tobothsides ofthepiston. Simultaneously compression commences on one side of the piston as the latter advances, while the other side is open to the exhaust. Before the piston reaches the end of its stroke in either direction the valve mechanism has begun to reverse, as heretofore explained. As soon as the valve mechanism begins to reverse, the pressure coming from the engine will be greater in front of the piston, as the exhaust is now closed on this side and open on the other. The piston then cannot go to the end of its stroke, but will return without completing the stroke, thus moving the crank J in the opposite direction to that in which it was previously rotated. Directly the movement is reversed the three valves at Y Y Y should be closed and the valve 9 put wide open; The engine will then continue working in the reverse direction. The reversing may be effected by means of a single pipe Z or Z and one valve Y or Y, introducing steam on one side only of the piston. For example, suppose the pipes Z Z to be one, with one valve Y, Fig. 1, and as the piston is nearing the end of its stroke to the right the valve Y should be opened. When the piston is within one-tenth, say, of the end of its stroke, the valve-gear has closed the exhaust-port on the right of the piston and the pressure of the steam coming through the valve Y prevents the further movement to the right of the pis ton, the exhaust-port on th'elett of the piston being now open. This arrangement enables the operation to be performed with greater facility and certainty.

I do not limit myself to the reversing arrangement hereinbefore described, as any other equivalent arrangement may be employed without affecting the principle of the invention.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of performingthe same in practice, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself in any way to the details of construction hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that the forms, materials, and dimensions of the parts constituting the motor-engine hereinbefore described may be modified and certain of the parts may even be replaced by others capable of producing the same effect.

I claim as my invention.-

1. A fluid-pressure motor consisting in the combination of a casing made in two or more parts A. A, a shaft B, a piston 0, having a vibrating or reciprocating angular movement,

four slide-valves-namely, two admissionvalves D D and two exhaust-valves E E with suitable means for effecting the distribution of the fluid to the two sides of the piston, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a fluid-pressure motor consisting of a casing made in two or more parts, a shaft B, and a piston O, the combination of the slidevalves D E on the one hand and DE on the other hand, respectively, with valve-rods F F, made in one or more parts, and with suitable means for efiecting the distribution of the fluid to the two sides of the piston, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. In afiuid-pressure motor consisting of a casing, a shaft, and'avibrating radial piston, the combination of a steanrsupply passage leading to each side of the piston with a valved pipe leading from the steam-supply to the casing to reverse the engine, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fluid-pressure motor consisting of a casing made in two or more parts, a shaft B, and a radial piston C, the combination of the said piston with a steam-supply passage G divided into two branches G G, and the valved i e Z divided into two branches Z Z,- P P communicating with opposite extremities of the casing A, for the purpose of reversing the engine, substantially as hereinbefore described.

5. In a motor with a piston having an angular reciprocating motion, the combination of an arm Q, fixed upon the piston-shaft, with a main valve-lever R, the extremities of which are connected to the valve-rods, with two levers S S, and with two small two-armed levers T T, substantially inthe manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

6. In a motor with a piston having an angular reciprocating motion, the combination of the arm Q, keyed upon the piston-shaft and capable of adjustment, with a main valvelever R, vibrating upon-a center 0, carried by a bracket L, attached to the casing, the said valve-lever being provided with camsurfaces r r at the front part and being connected to the valve-rods, and vibrating levers S S and TT, acted upon by the arm Q, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

7. In a motor with a piston having an angular reciprocating motion, the combination of an arm Q, fixed upon the piston-shaft and provided at its lower extremity witha tooth q, with a valve-lever R, vibrating upon a center 0, carried by a bracket L, attached to the casing and connected to the valve-rods, and with two levers T T and two levers S S, vibrating on centers 5 8 carried by lugs N N, attached to the casing, the said levers S S carrying projections s s, acted upon by the tooth g on the arm Q, and the said levers S S being provided with elongated openings or slots for the reception of the arms 7 r of the valve-lever R, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

8. In a motor with a piston having an angular reciprocating motion, the combination of an arm Q, fixed upon the piston-shaft and capable of adjustment, with a valve-lever R, vibrating upon a center 0, carried by a bracket L, attached to the casing and connected with the valve-rods, and with two small two-armed levers T T, vibrating on centers 25 i carried by lugsM M, attached to the casing, the said two-armed levers T T having upper armst t", the said arms 25 t acting upon the back of the said lever B, and the said two-armed levers T T being provided at their lower parts with arms 25 t, which are acted on alternately by the arm Q and two vibrating levers S S, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

9. In a motor with a piston having an angular reciprocating motion, the combination of an arm Q, fixed upon the piston-shaft and capable of adjustment, with a valve-lever R, vibrating upon a center 0, carried by a bracket L, attached to the casing and connected with the valve-rods, and with two small two-armed levers T T, vibrating on centers t i carried by lugs M M, attached to the casing, the said two-armed levers 'T T having upper arms t t, with adj usting-screws 'v 'u, the said arms t t acting upon the back of the said lever B, and the said two-armed levers T T being provided at their lower parts with arms 25 t, which are acted. on alternately by the arm Q and two vibrating levers S S, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOAQUIN RIBEIRO' DA COSTA.

Witnesses:

GUSTAVE SOHALLIC, EDOUARD MILLET. 

